Alpha's Protective Pup

2

But seeing the pride in my parents’ eyes made everything worthwhile, since they were able to brag to our family members and friends about my achievements. I said little about my dissatisfaction to them because complaining would get me nowhere.

Even in college, I still took a weekend once a month to drive upstate and visit my grandfather. He was much older and no longer able to tend to the farm like he wanted. My mom would visit him when she could, but since she couldn’t always be there, she hired people to help take care of Papa.

We filled our visits with conversations about my younger days, allowing us to bond over shared experiences and enjoy each other’s company. I made it a point to call him a few times a week to ensure that Papa and I stayed in constant contact.

Then everything changed after my parents died in a car crash. I grieved for a while and once it faded; it left me bitter. All I had achieved over the years had been for my parents. I went through the motions for them, longing for approval, but deep down, all I yearned for was to break free from it all.

Two years after my parents passed, my grandfather finally succumbed to a long illness, leaving a void in my life. The weight of losing my mother and father finally pushed him over the edge. It was tough for him to hold on without them, and I struggled as well.

It seemed like my life over the past few years was loss after loss. After the death of my parent’s, I had become somewhat numb, and that feeling grew even stronger when my grandfather passed away.

Upon Papa’s death, I took time off and traveled to his farm to fulfill the poignant tasks of caring for his remains and arranging his property. The thought of what to do with the farm would prove to be the complicated part. Since my mother was deceased, I became next in line for the farm as Papa’s only living relative.

I already knew what to do with his remains because he always expressed his wish to be cremated, but the thought of scattering his ashes brought a mix of sadness and relief.

After setting up the cremation service, I busied myself cleaning the house. Yet the impending decision about the farm weighed on my mind, but I continued to put it off.

The longing to leave my job and start a new life out here was indescribable. Despite its current state, the farm had potential, but reviving its success would demand a considerable commitment of time, effort, and money on my part.

When my firm called, asking when I was coming back, I was at a loss for words. “I’m sorry, what?”

Cecilia, the human resources officer, sighed. “I asked, when do you expect you’ll be back in the city?”

“I have plenty of personal and sick days lined up...” I kept my voice steady, trying to sound nonchalant.

I toiled away at the firm, just like a dog, unwavering in my focus and determination. The more I worked, the less I dwelled on the unhappiness of my life’s circumstances. Now that I didn’t have the distraction from my job, all I could think about was how light and free I felt at Papa’s farm.

“Yes, but we’d still like to get an idea of how much longer you’ll be gone.”

I rolled my eyes and bit back a sarcastic retort to Cecilia’s insensitive tone. “Look, I’ll be back as soon as I’ve used my days up, okay? It won’t be any sooner than that. I’m sorry, but that is how it is.”

“All right, well, see you then. My condolences on the loss of your family member.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice dripping with honeyed politeness. Her tone dripped with insincerity, making it hard for me to brush off her words.

The atmosphere in the law firm reflected the environment more than anything. People rarely took days off, since the place had a tone of work until you dropped. I dealt with it before, but I could feel my patience wearing thin.

Whenever I thought about my grandfather, my job faded into the background. The place was just as I remembered when I visited last month and nothing seemed weird or out-of-place then. Despite his age, Papa maintained a level of independence, being able to move around, do light chores, and feed himself.

I still thought his heart couldn’t take living without my mother anymore. The doctors said a sudden passing in his sleep was to be expected in his old age, but I was too tired to argue.

One would think being surrounded by all his memories would make his demise hurt more, but it did the opposite. I felt comforted that this was where I had always felt at home. The city just seemed so suffocating and here I could finally breathe.

On day four, I grew tired of the constant sight of the same four walls, prompting me to take a walk through the beautiful and lush forest surrounding Papa’s farm. I was itching to explore.

We took long strolls into the woods whenever I visited, but the two of us never strayed far from the property. Papa insisted we stay close. The farm stood off in the distance, a constant presence that offered a sense of security, as Papa had promised.

I never understood why my grandfather behaved that way, but I always brushed it off as the quirks of an elderly man and cherished him, despite it.

Around noon, I wandered through the forest while glancing behind me to ensure the farm remained in view. Although Papa’s words seemed ridiculous at the time, I still followed his silly rule.

The woodland was just as I remembered it as I roamed, eventually getting lost in my thoughts. This was so much better than going for walks in the city. Even when I strolled through the park, I couldn’t escape the bustling energy of people, dogs, and children moving in every direction.

If I took a jog early in the morning, I might be able to enjoy some silence, but it wasn’t long before something ruined it. I lived in the city all my life and after twenty-eight years, I should have been used to it. But the older I got, the more I couldn’t stand it.

About thirty minutes later, I realized the farm had become a distant blur from my vantage point. I turned around, intending to close the distance between me and the farm, when I heard a low growling sound behind me.

I whipped around to see what appeared like a wolf standing just a few feet away. At least I thought it was a wolf, with its piercing yellow eyes and sleek, gray fur. It resembled a wolf, but its size far surpassed any I had ever encountered.

Heart hammering, I inched backward, intent on putting as much distance as possible between me and the creature. With every step, the enormous animal matched my pace, as if determined to keep me within its grasp.